WIRCam News and Reports

News/Milestones

NEW ... 28-Feb-2005

  • Optics

    • - The optics has passed its acceptance tests in Montreal, and is being packed/shipped to CFHT.

  • Cryovessel

    • - The cryovessel (with dummy optics) has been tested on the telescope. Thermal behaviour is excellent, and the filter wheels were extensively exercised at several telescope positions.

  • Detectors

    • - CFHT has now accepted 3 of the 4 detectors needed by WIRCam.

  • Optics

    • - First image quality test done in Montreal @ 85K with 2 Eng arrays, on axis and off axis images show good PSF 3D psf off axis @ 8.3 arcmin (with CGH)

  • Cryovessel

    • - Acceptance tests done in CFHT, very good results.

  • Cryovessel

    • Provisional Acceptance of the Cryovessel in Grenoble. All tests completed succesfully.

  • Optics

    • - The Optical barrels are assembled and aligned, the tests in laboratory cryostat in Montreal should start soon. Collimator barrel during alignment in LAE(cut)

  • Detectors

    • - Rockwell proposes 3 arrays as possible science detectors. Some complementary measurements are needed before a final decision.
    - The Detector Mosaic Mount with 2 Eng-arrays waas delivered by G. Luppino, installation in test cryostat will start in Montreal on October 25th. picture of the mosaic with one array during assembly (GL Scientific)

  • Cryovessel

    • - The cryovessel is waiting for the upgraded bearing assembly for the filter wheels. The final integration is planned late October with acceptance tests before delivery. see cryovessel during a preliminary assembly in LAOG and for a more technical view drawing of the cryovessel (cut)

  • Software

    • - The guider software is last debugging phase with images acquired from the array in real time. The test with an artificial star will start in the next days. - For the acquisition software (guide star selection) the specifications and some algorithms development are in progress.

  • Telescope/Integration

    • - The upper end and Prime Focus Cage upgrade is in progress: new floor is installed, fixtures and rails for cables and hoses are under manufacturing.
    - The platform is assembled and checked at the manufacturer plant, now in painting phase before shipping to Hawaii.

    Events

    Acceptances

    - The final acceptance review of the ISU system was done in Meudon on March 8th.

    Deliveries/Tests


    pre-acceptance tests done in Grenoble June 29th-July 9th see minutes in     Project Office


    ISU final and complete delivery (2004  May).
    This delivery include the interface with the spacer delivered by LAOG.

    Second Mosaic mount delivered (2004  February)

    First Mosaic mount delivered (2003  November)

    Engineering detector arrays #2 delivered (2003  August)

    Engineering detector arrays #1 delivered (2003  March)
    Detector Multiplexer delivered  (2003 March) 

    Reviews

    Image Stabilizer Unit Final Design Review completed
    Cryovessel and filter wheel Final Design Review completed
    Optics mounting and barrels Final Design Review completed
    Final Design Review on electronic design and interface for the ISU Meudon on 2003 April 9th, see documents in Project Office

    Meeting on Cryovesel "control command "  Grenoble 2003 April 7-8 th, see documents in Project Office

    Final Design Review for Cryovessel and Optics mount  first meeting on 2003 January 15th, see documents in Project Office

    Conceptual design of the WIRCam mosaic module see in Project Office
    Cryovessel and filter wheel Preliminary Design Review  October 3, 2002 see: Cryovessel PDR presentation including a FEA
    Optics mounting and barrels Preliminary Design Review October 3, 2002 see: Optics mount PDR
    Lens mounting workshop  May 16, 2002 see:
    Optical Final Design Review on May 2, 2002, see: Optical design FDR

    Contracts

    for the Image Stabilizer Unit with the Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique February 2003
    for the Cryovessel with the Laboratoire d’AstrOphysique de Grenoble December 2002
    for mosaic mount and arrays integration with GL Scientific August 2002
    for Optical design and manufacturing with University of Montreal July 2002
    for Detector's arrays providing with Rockwell Scientific April 2002

    Meetings

    Assembly Integration and test Meeting in Paris September 18-20 th, 2003
    see minutes in     Project Office

    Meeting in Grenoble for Cryovessel and optics mounting May 26-27 th, see minutes in     restricted access

    Meeting on Cryovesel "control command "  Grenoble 2003 April 7-8 th, see documents in Project Office

    Meeting planned in February (17 to 21)  in Grenoble: cryovessel and instrument control, including a ISU meeting.

    Meeting on interfaces and design for optics, mechanics and thermics
                 in Montreal on November 7th and 8th 2002 see in restricted access



    Biweekly progress  report

    See in WEEKLY PROJECT REPORTS

    Preliminary studies

    •  The May 2001 Montreal-Grenoble report . This document presents the optical-mechanical design for a modular WIRCam that can be configured with either a 2x2 or a 2x3 mosaic of Hawaii-2 FPAs. A cost analysis is presented and risk assessment is included in the main body of the report. The full text, including appendices is available through the  Project Office (restricted access).


     

    • The full text of the April 2001 report discussing the status of the Hawaii-2RG FPAs (Klaus Hodapp) is available through the Project Office section ( restricted access). 
    • Following the June 2001 SAC and Wircam Steering Group meetings, René Doyon (U de M), Simon Thibault (INO) and Patrick Rabou (Obs. de Grenoble) agreed to re-examine the modular and single-channel optical designs with a view toward reducing risk and improving efficiency. This report may be viewed here. The full text available through the Project Office (restricted access).